ENERGY STAR Labeled Building Profile

Founded in 1999 by Marie Corrigan, Sophia Academy, a school located in Atlanta, Georgia, for children with learning differences, was awarded the ENERGY STAR for superior energy performance in 2010 with an energy performance score of 84. Since 2006, Sophia has been an active participant in the Green Cup Challenge, a nationally organized contest among schools throughout the country to reduce energy consumption, and has made continual efforts to be good stewards of the environment. Furthermore, Sophia is on target for an 8-percent reduction in energy usage this year vs. this time last year thanks to aggressive efforts to save energy by students and faculty.

Twice a week, our conservation committee made up of 5th grade students delivers "energy tips" to each homeroom, kindergarten through 8th grade, to post on its walls. These tips provide simple tasks a student and his or her family could accomplish at home to save energy, such as setting thermostats to 66 degrees in winter, using high efficiency shower heads, and weather-stripping windows and doors. The school hallways are also festooned with signs promoting energy conservation, reducing our carbon footprint, and sustaining our resources.

On August 17, 2010, Sophia Academy earned the ENERGY STAR from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for achieving an energy performance score of 84, based on the school's building profile and geographical location. Sophia has also collected all nameplate data of its mechanical equipment, performs scheduled maintenance on these machines, and has set its sights on longer-term goals to become certified under the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC's) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system, which includes categories for sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design. When Sophia was awarded the ENERGY STAR, it was only one of twelve schools in its category state-wide to achieve this designation.

Sophia Academy has not only been recognized for its efforts in energy conservation, it has also set up rain barrels--replete with a portrait of Mark Twain--to collect run-off for a sustainable garden, plants a new tree each year for Earth Day on April 22nd (in conjunction with the celebration of William Shakespeare's birthday on April 23rd), and uses public transport as much as possible for field trips.

In addition to these accomplishments on the ground, Sophia is also making a point of educating students in the classroom with persuasive essay assignments--in collaboration between the language arts and science departments--on the most efficient, economical, and sustainable renewable energy source. Sophia has also expanded for traditional learners as well in small classes and multisensory instruction. It has the most expansive opportunities for its size including award-winning fine arts, athletics, and academics. The K-9th grade school is a leader in assistive technology, through a partnership with Georgia Tech.

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Please note: Narrative information in this profile has been provided by Sophia Academy or a representative of this facility. Other building information was verified and submitted to EPA at the time of application. Building energy performance, operating characteristics, and ownership/management may be subject to change over time.